Short answer

Designers should consider the impact of traditional architectural features, such as deep Iwans and carefully sized windows, when designing buildings in hot and dry climates to enhance passive cooling and heating strategies and reduce energy consumption.

Field
Resource Management
Source
Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment (2023)
Method
Simulation
Evidence
Strong effect

Adjusting the proportions of traditional architectural elements like Iwans and window sizes can significantly impact a building's heating and cooling energy demands. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment. Using Simulation, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should consider the impact of traditional architectural features, such as deep Iwans and carefully sized windows, when designing buildings in hot and dry climates to enhance passive cooling and heating strategies and reduce energy consumption.

Study
Resource ManagementRecentStrong effect

Optimizing Iwan depth and window size reduces building energy consumption by up to 20%

Adjusting the proportions of traditional architectural elements like Iwans and window sizes can significantly impact a building's heating and cooling energy demands.

Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment · 2023

01

Key Findings

  • 01Iwan depth significantly influences thermal comfort within adjacent rooms.
  • 02The ratio of window area to wall area (WWR) in adjacent rooms has a substantial effect on comfort levels.
  • 03Specific Iwan proportions and WWR can lead to reduced cooling and heating loads.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Designers should consider the impact of traditional architectural features, such as deep Iwans and carefully sized windows, when designing buildings in hot and dry climates to enhance passive cooling and heating strategies and reduce energy consumption.

How to apply

When designing residential buildings in hot and dry regions, explore variations in Iwan depth and window-to-wall ratios, and use simulation software to quantify the impact on energy consumption.

Project actions

  • 01When researching traditional buildings, look for elements that helped with climate control.
  • 02Use simulation software to test how changes to these elements affect energy use in your own designs.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo determine the optimal Iwan depth and window-to-wall ratio for adjacent rooms in central courtyard buildings to minimize cooling and heating loads and energy consumption in hot and dry climates.
MethodSimulation
ProcedureA central courtyard building model with Iwans was simulated using Design Builder software. Various proportions of Iwan depth and window-to-wall ratios for adjacent rooms (north and south-facing) were tested to evaluate their impact on cooling load, heating load, and overall energy consumption.
ContextResidential architecture in hot and dry climates (specifically Yazd, Iran)

Variables

IV["Iwan depth","Window-to-wall ratio (WWR)"]
DV["Cooling load","Heating load","Energy consumption"]
CV["Building model geometry (central courtyard)","Location (Yazd, hot and dry climate)","Room orientation (north-facing, south-facing)","Simulation software used (Design Builder)"]
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Utilizes simulation software for quantitative analysis.
  • +Focuses on a specific climate and architectural style relevant to sustainable design.
  • +Investigates multiple design parameters.

Limitations

Simulations are an approximation; real-world factors like material degradation, air leakage, and occupant habits are not fully accounted for.

Reliability & validity

The study's validity relies on the accuracy of the Design Builder simulation software. Reliability would be enhanced by replicating the simulations with different software or by conducting physical experiments.

Think critically

How might the effectiveness of these traditional elements change in different climate zones, and what other traditional architectural features could be adapted for modern sustainable design?

05

Design Principles

"Passive solar design principles, informed by traditional vernacular architecture, can significantly reduce building energy loads."

This research highlights how thoughtful integration of traditional design features can lead to substantial energy savings in contemporary buildings. Understanding these relationships allows designers to create more sustainable and comfortable living spaces, particularly in hot and dry climates, by reducing reliance on active climate control systems.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Making traditional architectural features like deep porches (Iwans) and changing window sizes can make buildings use less energy for heating and cooling.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when discussing the impact of passive design features on energy consumption in your design project's analysis or evaluation sections.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research demonstrates that architectural elements like Iwan depth and window-to-wall ratio significantly influence a building's thermal performance and energy consumption in hot and dry climates. Optimizing these features, as explored through simulation, can lead to substantial reductions in heating and cooling loads, offering a pathway to more sustainable and comfortable built environments.

09

Source

Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment

Investigating the Effect of Different Proportions of Iwan and Window Area of Adjacent Room on Cooling/Heating Load and Energy Consumption in Central Courtyard Model in Yazd

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about optimizing iwan depth and window size reduces building energy consumption by up to 20%?
Designers should consider the impact of traditional architectural features, such as deep Iwans and carefully sized windows, when designing buildings in hot and dry climates to enhance passive cooling and heating strategies and reduce energy consumption. Evidence: Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment (2023).
Why does "Optimizing Iwan depth and window size reduces building energy consumption by up to 20%" matter for design?
This research highlights how thoughtful integration of traditional design features can lead to substantial energy savings in contemporary buildings. Understanding these relationships allows designers to create more sustainable and comfortable living spaces, particularly in hot and dry climates, by reducing reliance on active climate control systems.
How can designers apply this research?
Designers should consider the impact of traditional architectural features, such as deep Iwans and carefully sized windows, when designing buildings in hot and dry climates to enhance passive cooling and heating strategies and reduce energy consumption.
What were the main findings?
Iwan depth significantly influences thermal comfort within adjacent rooms.. The ratio of window area to wall area (WWR) in adjacent rooms has a substantial effect on comfort levels.. Specific Iwan proportions and WWR can lead to reduced cooling and heating loads.
What research method was used?
Simulation.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When designing residential buildings in hot and dry regions, explore variations in Iwan depth and window-to-wall ratios, and use simulation software to quantify the impact on energy consumption.
What are the limitations?
The study is based on simulations and may not fully capture real-world performance variations due to construction quality, occupant behavior, and microclimate differences.